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In order to achieve these goals within
the scope of the four-day program, ASEP
2018 was conducted through a series of
site visits and community engagement
projects at several biodiversity and cultural
sites within the State of Selangor and
Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur and
Putrajaya. Through these curated activities,
the participants of ASEP 2018 were led on a
journey to discover the beauty of the
natural environment in Malaysia, which
would help them unearth the many gifts
that planet Earth has given to humanity.
These locations include:
(1) Rimba Ilmu, Universiti Malaya – serves as
a living example
conservation, showcasing
collection of flora from tropical rainforests
and fostering cross-cultural exchange
among students to appreciate the gift of
nature.
(2) Putrajaya Wetlands Park – embodies
the importance of wetland ecosystems in
preserving biodiversity and providing
essential ecosystem services, highlighting
the significance of sustainable urban
planning in harmonizing
development with natural environments.
(3) Firefly Rehabilitation
Belustas, Kuala Selangor – demonstrates
efforts to restore degraded habitats and
conserve endangered species, showcasing
the potential for human intervention to
positively impact rainforest ecosystems.
(4) Forest Research Institute of Malaysia
(FRIM) in Kepong – insights into sustainable
forest management practices and the
importance of research in understanding
and conserving tropical
emphasizing the role of science and
education in preserving natural gifts.
(5) Sijangkang Village
Recreational Park
community-driven conservation efforts
and the resilience
ecosystems, highlighting the importance of
local stewardship and sustainable
management in safeguarding rainforest
gifts for future generations.
(6) Mah Meri Aboriginal Village, Carey Island
– preserves indigenous knowledge and
cultural heritage, emphasizing the spiritual
connection between humans and nature
and promoting respect for the rainforest's
gifts through traditional practices and
environmental stewardship.
The first day of ASEP 2018 began on
August 2nd as all participants arrived in
Kuala Lumpur and gathered within
Universiti Malaya. The day commenced
with a profound exploration of Rimba Ilmu,
a botanical sanctuary nestled within the
of biodiversity esteemed confines of the Universiti Malaya
a diverse campus. Established in 1974, spanning an
expanse of 80 hectares, this verdant oasis
nurtures a diverse collection of 1600 flora
species, symbolizing the rich biodiversity
inherent to tropical rainforests. As the sole
university-maintained botanical garden in
Kuala Lumpur, Rimba Ilmu serves as a
testament to Universiti Malaya’s
commitment to preserving its natural
heritage. Guided by Malaysian students
human themselves, the international participants
embarked on a tour through the garden's
in Tanjung exhibition area and garden. They
encountered a plethora of native tropical
plants such as medicinal plants, palm
groves, citrus orchards, and bamboo
thickets. Notably, the garden also
showcased a curated selection of flora
sourced from Tropical Asia, the Pacific
Islands, Australia, South America, Africa,
and Madagascar, underscoring its
significance as a repository of global
rainforests, botanical diversity, aptly embodying the
theme of "A Gift from Tropical Rainforest."
Following this enlightening excursion, all
Mangrove attendees convened again at the UMCIC
– showcases building for the formal opening ceremony.
The opening ceremony began with a series
of mangrove of introductory speeches from the ASEP
2018 coordinator and esteemed Japanese
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